September 2008 - Hawaii Fire Fighters Association

The Hawaii 

SEPTEMBER 2008 

An Official Publication of the 

Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463 

www.hawaiifirefighters.org 

Hannemann’s Commitment to Public 

Safety Cited in Endorsement 

Mayor Hannemann receives the endorsement of the HFFA at a press conference on July 16. 

Four years ago, the Hawaii Fire 

Fighters Association (HFFA) endorsed 

Mufi Hannemann for mayor of the City 

and County of Honolulu based on his 

legislative and professional experience, 

his inner strength and determination to 

make impossible things happen, and his 

years of support and dedication to 

union members. 

This July, it wasn’t difficult at all for 

the union’s Executive Board to make its 

decision for Honolulu mayor. Citing 

Mayor Hannemann’s unwavering commitment 

to public safety, the board 

unanimously endorsed his bid for reelection. 

“Over the past four years as mayor, 

Mufi’s commitment to public safety and 

specifically, the men and women of the 

fire service has never wavered,” said 

HFFA President Robert Lee. “Under his 

leadership, Mufi has provided the 

Honolulu Fire Department with the necessary 

funding and resources, and equipment 

and training to ensure that our 

fire fighters are best prepared to deal 

with any and all emergency situations 

facing our communities today. 

“The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, 

regardless of party affiliation, supports 

candidates who support fire fighters. 

We are privileged and honored to 

endorse Mufi Hannemann for reelection 

to the office of mayor for the City and 

County of Honolulu.” 

A Legacy Remembered 

In front of family members of the late Richard “Black” Perry and Francis Kennedy, 

Jr., Local 1463 dedicated a memorial honoring the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association’s 

(HFFA) former president and business manager in a ceremony held early May. 

The brief program featured a tribute from International Association of Fire 

Fighters (IAFF) President Harold Schaitberger given by IAFF Vice President Jim 

Ferguson (10th District), the reminiscing of FFIII Robyn Ishihara, who collaborated 

with Perry in designing the HFFA logo in 1989, and the sharing of stories and friendship 

with Kennedy from Joyce Najita, director of the Industrial Relations Center at 

the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 

Continued on page 3

State of the Union 

“In the past, chiefs 

lobbied for pay increases 

for themselves as 

anyone would but never 

at the expense of their 

own fire fighters. ” 

Robert H. Lee, President 

Most if not all of you are aware of the 

Rank-for-Rank recall (R4R) issue going on 

in Honolulu where a group of Honolulu 

Fire Department operations battalion 

chiefs have filed a civil service appeal and 

also a complaint in circuit court in an effort 

to gain immediate participation in the 

union’s R4R program and also receive at 

least $673,920.00 for work not performed 

but for “lost overtime opportunities”. 

There is another important point about 

this issue. If you’ve been in this profession 

for any length of time, you clearly understand 

the importance that we place on fire 

fighter tradition and culture. We fight 

hard to keep the qualities and traditions of 

the past alive and well. This is what fire 

fighters do everywhere. When we lose traditions 

and take away from our culture, 

we’ve lost a little bit of who and what we 

are. We accept changes to our fire fighter 

culture if they result in positive outcomes 

but this appeal is trying to change our tradition 

with detrimental and negative 

effects. 

Traditionally, the union negotiates pay 

and benefit increases for our rank-and-file 

members which, has nothing to do with 

our chief officers. The chiefs sit on the sidelines 

and usually cheer us on because they 

understand that the closer we get to them 

in pay and/or benefits, it gives them their 

best justification to ask for more pay and 

benefits for themselves. 

Throughout the years it’s been a long 

standing, somewhat friendly competition 

between the chiefs and the union. We 

would normally tease them whenever we 

got our salary schedule close to theirs and 

also congratulate them as they would 

financially pull away from us …. again. This 

game was played in a friendly manner and 

always in fun …..until now. So what’s different 

this time? What has changed? 

In the past, chiefs lobbied for pay 

increases for themselves as anyone would 

but never at the expense of their own fire 

fighters. Chiefs took pride in their battalions 

and bureaus and clearly and adamantly 

protected the interests of their fire fighters. 

Unfortunately, and I am sorry to say that 

this is the first time in the history of our 

union that chief officers, specifically this 

select group of Honolulu battalion chiefs, 

have taken a position to go after benefits 

for themselves and at the expense and 

with no regard to the fire fighters that 

serve under them and their families. If they 

prevail, their actions will adversely impact 

our members but sadly, they don‘t care! 

They continue to justify their consciences 

by hiding behind their money-hungry 

attorneys and their misinterpretation of 

“the Law”. 

We will continue to do our best to protect 

the rights and interests of our members 

and their families. As our R4R program 

is just the first step in building an 

overtime program for the future, this fight 

really benefits our younger members, those 

who have a number of years to go in their 

careers. 

Our members deserve to work in an 

occupation that is truly a profession and 

will provide the necessary wages and overtime 

opportunities to support themselves 

and their families. The only way to accomplish 

this is to make the fire service their 

full-time and part-time employment. Sadly, 

this is just the beginning of a very long and 

dark road that, win or lose, will leave its 

ugly mark on the history of the Honolulu 

Fire Department and the HFFA. And we can 

thank these BC’s for that. 

Thank you for your support of your 

Union! 

Stay Safe, 

Bobby 




Hawaii Fire Fighters Association 

IAFF Local 1463, AFL-CIO 

Robert H. Lee, President 

Terry Cano, 

Secretary-Treasurer 

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS 

Oahu Division 

Todd Hugo, Chair 

Christopher Sharrer, Recorder 

Bradley Chang 

Rankin Kaanoi 

Ocean Kaowili 

Jay Kemmler 

Cleghorn “Boy” Lopes 

Hawaii Division 

Gerald T. Kosaki, Chair 

Ty Medeiros, Recorder 

Gifford Matsuoka 

Maui Division 

Jeffrey Kihune, Chair 

Alma Aiwohi, Recorder 

Elvin Kamoku 

Kauai Division 

Colin D. Wilson, Chair 

Steven Doi, Recorder 

2

New Union 

Contract Calls for 

5 Percent Wage 

Increase 

According to provisions negotiated in 

the most recent Hawaii Fire Fighters 

Association (HFFA) collective bargaining 

agreement, Local 1463 members will 

receive a 5 percent across-the-board 

wage increase effective July 1, 2008. In 

addition to the wage increase, HFFA 

members will receive continued step 

movements based on years of service, a 

60 cents-per-hour night-shift differential 

and an increase in members’ meal and 

uniform allowance. 

Here’s a summary of the wage and 

benefit adjustments based on the new 

HFFA collective bargaining agreement: 

Wages 

5% across the board wage increase 

Step Movements 

Continued step movements based on 

years of service 

Continued catch-up step movements 

on anniversary date 

Night Shift Differential 

60 cents per hour for each full hour 

(increased from 45 cents) 

30 cents for 1/2 hour or less (increased 

from 23 cents) 

Meals Allowance 

$8.00 per day (increased from $7.00) 

Uniform Allowance 

$35.00 per month (increased from 

$25.00) 

HFFA Members Should Consider 

Long-Term Care Insurance 

The choices you make today can determine how you and your family will live and 

where you will live in the future. 

Long term care is the care people need when they can not perform the tasks of ordinary 

independent living. One of the fallacies of long term care is only the elderly need 

this care. Truth be told, 40% of Americans currently receiving long term care services are 

between the ages of 18 – 64. Accidents, strokes and heart attacks are the major causes 

requiring young individuals to receive long term care services. Put another way, long 

term care needs are not age specific. 

Long term care may not be a subject that most of us care to dwell on but think about 

the many ways that long term care needs could impact your family and friends. Will 

they be able to devote sufficient time to care for you? If your spouse is working he/she 

may have to reduce their work schedule or leave their job entirely. Could you afford the 

loss of income? How would the mortgage and other living necessities be paid? Long 

term care services can drain you financially can deplete your income and assets. 

Here is the approximate cost in Hawaii for various levels of nursing care: 

Home Care $3,100 

Assisted living $3,500 

Nursing home $6,500 

Purchasing insurance may be wiser when it comes to covering long term care expenses. 

As an example: a 30 year old couple decides to purchase long term care insurance. 

The monthly premium is $34.06 (3 year benefit, $100/day nursing home; $50/day home 

care, 5% simple inflation, 35% discount). The future value of $34.06 invested at 4% 

would be $22,935 in 30 years. The benefit for long term care services would be 

$548.000. Waiting to purchase these same benefits at age 60 would cost over $3,200 per 

year. 

HFFA is pleased to make available to all HFFA members the MetLife’s Long Term Care 

Insurance Multi-Life Discount Program through Royal State Insurance. This program 

offers all HFFA members a base 5% discount with additional discounts of up to 35% 

depending on the plan selected. The Plan is currently available for active members and 

their families. The open enrollment period runs from September 1, 2008 through 

December 1, 2008. For more information and/or to enroll in the program call the Royal 

State Insurance offices: 

Oahu 539-1777 

Hawaii 935-2766 

Maui 244-7245 

Kauai 245-4571 

Molokai/Lanai 1-800-774-7668 (toll free) 

Legacy Continued from page 1 

“Francis was a close friend of mine, and while I did not know 

Perry as well, his devotion to the labor movement remains legendary,” 

said Ferguson, in reading a letter from General 

President Schaitberger to HFFA President Robert Lee. “This 

memorial will help us to remember what these two great labor 

leaders have done for the state of Hawaii and its fire fighters, 

and it will also remind us of all that can be accomplished as long 

as we stand together, united as one in this great union. It is nearly 

impossible to talk about one of these men and not mention 

the other. Both were leaders, mentors and protectors to fire 

fighters across the islands.” 

Perry, who retired from the Honolulu Fire Department in 1992 

as a fire captain, served as HFFA president from 1972 to 1997. 

Kennedy, who was also HFFA president in 1970-1971, retired 

from the department in 1972. He served as Local 1463’s business 

manager from 1972-2001. 

Perry’s son, Richard Perry Jr., a retired fire fighter from the 

State Crash Fire Rescue, and Kennedy’s son, John Kennedy, an 

assistant fire chief with the State Crash, were among those in 

attendance at the ceremony. Kennedy’s widow, Hazel, was also 

present, along with their other children. 

“Their successes have united Hawaii’s fire fighters, not just on 

the local level, but on the state level, as well,” Schaitberger 

wrote. “It was because of their hard work that Hawaii fire fighters 

have collective bargaining, binding arbitration, decent wages 

and safer working conditions. 

“All of us are lucky to have had two men staunchly dedicated to 

duty and the labor movement in our lives. The loss of brothers 

Kennedy and Perry created a hole in the fire fighter family that can 

never be filled. They will forever be missed and will always remain in 

our hearts and minds.” 

L-R: Richard Perry, Jr. (retired fire fighter from State Crash Rescue); Toni 

Lee Naone (dau of Richard Perry); Marguerite Kennedy (mother of Francis 

Kennedy); Hazel Kennedy (widow of Francis Kennedy) and Kennedy’s 

children: Marguerite, Danny and John Kennedy (Asst. Fire Chief, State 

Crash Fire Rescue). 

3

2008 ‘Fill the Boot’ Raises More tha 

Hundreds of Hawaii Fire Fighter 

Association (HFFA) members, their families 

and friends were on the front line 

during the Labor Day weekend volunteering 

at “Fill the Boot” sites 

statewide. The response from HFFA 

members and the community was overwhelming 

and the money raised exceeded 

all expectations. 

The funds raised help those living 

with neuromuscular diseases by providing 

services, equipment and sponsoring 

research. Local 1463’s efforts – along 

with the hundreds of International 

Association of Fire Fighter (IAFF) locals 

across the United States and Canada – 

are part of IAFF’s commitment to the 

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). 

4

n $52,000 

5

Retiree Focus Group Looks to 

form New Club 

In looking for ways to keep in contact 

with “active” retired members of the 

Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, the 

union hosted a “focus” group on August 

20 to discuss ways to reach out to these 

members. The seven retirees, Simeon 

Alo, Kurt Doane, M. Roger Goodell, 

Marcus Halualani, Bobby Lenchenko, 

David Mortensen and Leon Wolske, all 

expressed their enthusiasm about having 

more organized activities. 

“It was a good first step, getting the 

retirees together and having a good 

alternative to the department,” Goodell 

said. “It’s nice to have another platform 

for retiree voices to be heard. The idea 

that it is union-based versus the department 

is a huge positive.” 

The group was very receptive to sports 

functions such as golf and softball, and 

the possibility of an annual trip to Las 

Vegas was even mentioned. 

“I think we came up with a lot of 

good points, now we have to get things 

moving,” Halualani said. “We can bring 

a lot of retirees together, even if it’s for 

a picnic. We’ve drifted apart over the 

years; just to get everybody together 

would be great.” 

Welcome Honolulu Recruits! 

The Hawaii Fire Fighter would like to welcome the following 94th recruit class 

on Oahu that was hired on Aug. 25, 2008. 

Daniel K. Andrade 

Erik G. Barton 

Joseph C. Beam 

David C. Clark 

John I. Dyer 

Keith T. Endow 

Daniel B. Goh 

Kapono M. Kaluhiokalani 

Brandon H.W. Kam 

Paul M. Kaneshiro, Jr 

Paul A. Kimsel 

Travis K. Kotrys 

Renbert Y. Miyamoto 

David L. Moffat, II 

Elvis K. Oliveira 

Eric J. Papayoanou 

Brother Lenchenko said he would like 

to see a retiree section in the Hawaii Fire 

Fighter. He also was high on improving 

the website to include union and departmental 

updates. 

“It was a good start,” Lenchenko said. 

“We have to keep in touch. Hopefully, 

when we do start these activities, we can 

get the guys to come out. I really like the 

idea of bringing it to the other islands.” 

For Goodell, he could see the advantages 

of having a retiree club go well 

beyond the camaraderie and social 

aspects. 

“We can also be an issues-based organization,” 

Brother Goodell said. “We can 

focus on legislative issues that are important 

to us as fire fighter retirees.” 

Local 1463 President Robert Lee, who 

opened and conducted the meeting, liked 

what he saw from this initial group. 

“There was a lot of great feedback 

about what they wanted,” Brother Lee 

said. “Our next step will be to produce a 

questionnaire that will be mailed to all of 

our union retirees to gauge the interest 

and to see what direction they want to 

go with this.” 

Top L-R: David Mortensen, Roger Goodell. Bottom L-R: Marcus Halualani, Robert Lenchanko, Kurt 

Doane. 

Lanson P. Ronquilio 

Stuttgart I.W. Schilling 

Kilikikopa S. Sueda 

Samuel A. Taeu, Jr 

Drew P. Yamamoto 

New HFFA Staff 

Member to 

Enhance Technical 

Communications 

Local 1463 

members will 

soon see a 

dramatically 

more efficient 

and 

attractive 

website 

thanks to the 

efforts of 

new Hawaii 

Fire Fighters 

Association 

(HFFA) 

Communications 

Director 

Daisy M. 

Canite- 

Miyashiro. 

That’s just Daisy Canite-Miyashiro 

one of the 

many projects the former office manager 

of the Honolulu Fire Department’s 

Firemen’s Fund is currently working on 

for HFFA. 

“I’ll do my best to answer questions 

and solve technical issues, which in turn, 

allows us to improve the website with 

their (members’) feedback,” Miyashiro 

said. “I look forward to contributing to 

the vitality and strength of Local 1463 

on behalf of the membership.” 

In addition to managing and improving 

the union’s website, Miyashiro, who 

started at HFFA in January, is working on 

a myriad of projects including document 

management and migrating legacy files 

to e-docs, evaluating and improving the 

website’s functionality, compiling an 

email database to enable broadcast messaging, 

assisting the union’s Constitution 

& Bylaws committee and helping to promote 

upcoming HFFA events and activities. 

Prior to her stint at the Firemen’s 

Fund, the Kaimuki High School graduate 

worked in the San Francisco Bay Area as 

a communications and graphics manager 

for Bedford Property Investors, Inc. and 

was a design services manager with 

AlphaGraphics in Concord, Calif. 

Miyashiro also has taken graphic design 

classes through the continuing education 

program at the University of 

California at Berkeley. 

“All of the projects that Daisy is working 

on are important in communicating 

pertinent and time-sensitive information 

to our members on a moments notice,” 

said HFFA President Robert Lee. “She 

also will create and manage our ‘members 

only’ database for our website identifying 

Local 1463 members’ part-time 

businesses. We will send out further 

information as we develop the guidelines 

for this project.” 

6

2008 Primary Election HFFA Endorsements 

U.S. Representative Congressional District 1 

ABERCROMBIE, Neil (D) 

U.S. Representative Congressional District 2 

HIRONO, Mazie (D) 

State Senator District 1 

TAKAMINE, Dwight Y. (D) 


GREEN, Josh (D) 


BAKER, Roz (D) 


ENGLISH, J. Kalani (D) 


HOOSER, Gary L. (D) 


GALUTERIA, Brickwood M. (D) 


IGE, David Y. (D) 


OPEN 


NISHIHARA, Clarence (D) 


HANABUSA, Colleen (D) 


BUNDA, Robert (D) 


HEE, Clayton (D) 

State Representative District 1 

OPEN 


CHANG, Jerry Leslie (D) 


TSUJI, Clifton (Clift) (D) 


OPEN 


HERKES, Robert (Bob) (D) 


OPEN 


EVANS, Cindy (D) 


SOUKI, Joe (D) 


NAKASONE, Bob (D) 


MCKELVEY, Angus (D) 


OPEN 


YAMASHITA, Kyle P.(D) 


CARROLL, Mele (D) 


MORITA, Hermina (Mina) (D) 


TOKIOKA, James (D) 


SAGUM, Roland D., III (D) 


OPEN 


BERG, Lyla B (D) 


MARUMOTO, Barbara C. (R) 


SAY, Calvin K. Y (D) 


NISHIMOTO, Scott Y. (D) 


SAIKI, Scott K.(D) 


OPEN 


CHOY, Isaac W. (D) 


BELATTI, Della A. (D) 


LUKE, Sylvia (D) 


OPEN 


RHOADS, Karl (D) 


MANAHAN, Joey (D) 


MIZUNO, John (D) 


WAKAI, Glenn (D) 


FINNEGAN, Lynn (R) 


OSHIRO, Blake K. (D) 


TAKAI, K. Mark P (D) 


OPEN 


TAKUMI, Roy M. (D) 


YAMANE, Ryan (D) 


LEE, Marilyn B. (D) 


OSHIRO, Marcus R. (D) 


HAR, Sharon E. (D) 


OPEN 


SCHULTZ, Mike P. (D) 


PINE, Kymberly (Marcos) (R) 


OPEN 


SHIMABUKURO, Maile S. L. (D) 


MAGAOAY, Michael Y. (D) 


OPEN 


ITO, Ken (D) 


CHONG, Pono (D) 


THIELEN, Cynthia (R) 


OPEN 

Honolulu Mayor 

HANNEMANN, Mufi (NS) 

Councilmember Honolulu Council District I 

APO, Todd Kala (NS) 

Councilmember Honolulu Council District III 

MARSHALL, Barbara (NS) 

Councilmember Honolulu Council District V 

NO ENDORSEMENT 

Councilmember Honolulu Council District VII 

CACHOLA, Romy M. (NS) 

Councilmember Honolulu Council District IX 

GARCIA, Nestor R. (NS) 

County of Hawaii Mayor 

KENOI, Billy (NS) 

Councilmember Hawaii Council District 1 

OPEN 


IKEDA, Donald A. (NS) 


YOSHIMOTO, J (NS) 


ONISHI, Dennis (Fresh) (NS) 


JOSEPH, Wayne (Big Dog) (NS) 


JACOBSON, Bob (NS) 


OPEN 


OPEN 


HOFFMANN, Pete (NS) 

COUNTY OF MAUI 

Councilmember East Maui 

MEDEIROS, Bill (Kauakea) (NS) 

Councilmember West Maui 

JOHNSON, Jo Anne (NS) 

Councilmember Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu 

VICTORINO, Michael (Mike) (NS) 

Councilmember Kahului 

PONTANILLA, Joe (NS) 

Councilmember South Maui - Open Seat 

OPEN 

Councilmember Makawao-Haiku-Paia 

MOLINA, Mike (NS) 

Councilmember Upcountry 

BAISA, Gladys Coelho (NS) 

Councilmember Lanai - Open Seat 

OPEN 

Councilmember Molokai 

MATEO, Danny A. (NS) 

Kauai Special Mayoral Vacancy 

RAPOZO, Mel (NS) 

Kauai Councilmember (7) 

ASING, Bill (Kaipo) (NS) 

CHANG, Dickie (NS) 

FURFARO, Jay (NS) 

KAWAKAMI, Derek (NS) 

KOUCHI, Ronald (NS) 

KUALII, KipuKai Les P. (NS) 

7

HFFA Members Volunteer at MDA Summer Camp 

Local 1463 members helped volunteers 

at the annual Muscular Dystrophy 

Association (MDA) Summer Camp in 

mid-June at Camp Erdman. 

Union Softball 

Tournament Set 

for November 1 

The 2008 Hawaii Fire Fighters 

Association state softball tournament 

has been scheduled for the 

weekend of Nov. 1, 2008 in Waipio. 

Interested members and teams 

may contact Rankin Kaanoi at 

rkaanoi@hawaiifirefighters.org or 

Ivan Kaneshiro at ivanockers@ yahoo.com. 

Log On to the HFFA Website 

Want to find out the latest about what is happening with the Hawaii Fire Fighters 

Association (HFFA)? For the most up-to-date information available exclusively to 

Local 1463 members, log on to HFFA’s website at www.hawaiifirefighters.org. 

Once in, click on the “members only” section. You will be prompted with a user 

name and password – with the user name being your first name, underscore and 

last name (no spaces). Your member’s password is your IAFF (International 

Association of Fire Fighters) number. 

The union is currently compiling a communications database and would like members 

to give their personal non-work email address on the website. This allows HFFA 

the ability to share information on critical issues that may affect members and 

reduces the administrative expense of mailing notices to those who prefer to 

receive them electronically. Please update your personal email address and help conserve 

nature’s resources. 




Presorted 

Standard 

U.S. Postage Paid 

Honolulu, Hawaii 

Permit No. 59 

Hawaii Fire Fighters Association 

IAFF Local 1463, AFL-CIO 

2305 S. Beretania Street, Room 202 

Honolulu, Hawaii 96826

September 2008 - Hawaii Fire Fighters Association

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